Jimmy Carter: Six-Day State Funeral Begins with Procession Through Georgia for Former President | US News

A series of funeral events spanning six days is currently taking place for former US President Jimmy Carter.

The 100-year-old Democrat, who served from 1977 to 1981, passed away peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by family on December 29. He held the distinction of being the oldest living former president in US history.

A motorcade carrying his flag-draped coffin began its journey from the Phoebe Sumter Medical Centre in Americus, where former Secret Service agents who once guarded him acted as pallbearers, escorting the hearse as it departed the premises.

His family, which includes his four children as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, joined in a procession taking his body through Plains and past his childhood home on the family farm in nearby Archery.

At that location, the National Park Service commemoratively rang the old farm bell 39 times to honor his legacy as the 39th president.

Onlookers gathered along the procession route in central Plains, near the train depot that served as the headquarters for Mr. Carter’s presidential campaign.

Some attendees brought flowers or wore commemorative pins featuring Mr. Carter’s image.

“We want to pay our respects,” expressed Will Porter Shelbrock, a 12-year-old born over 30 years after Mr. Carter’s presidency ended in 1981.

“He was truly ahead of his time with his aspirations and achievements.”

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The motorcade is en route to Atlanta, where a moment of silence will be observed in front of the Georgia Capitol, followed by a ceremony at the Carter Presidential Centre.

His body will be here until Tuesday, after which it will be transported to Washington DC to lie in state at the US Capitol.

The state funeral will commence on Thursday at 10 a.m. at Washington National Cathedral, subsequently returning to Plains for a private funeral service at Maranatha Baptist Church.

He will be interred near his home, next to his late wife Rosalynn Carter, who passed away in November 2023.

Both were born in Plains and spent most of their lives there, aside from Mr. Carter’s service in the navy and his roles as Georgia governor and president.

On his 100th birthday last year, Mr. Carter received a personal congratulatory message from the King, praising his commitment to public service.

Mr. Carter assumed the presidency upon defeating former president Gerald Ford in 1976.

The Georgia native and former peanut farmer was later defeated by Republican Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election.

The last year of his presidency was marked by the Iran hostage crisis, where 52 Americans were taken hostage at the US embassy in November 1979.

On his last day in office, January 20, 1981, the hostages were released. Mr. Carter had continued negotiations behind the scenes even after losing the election.

In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to promote peace globally.

Mr. Carter remained active in diplomatic missions into his 80s and worked on housing initiatives for the less fortunate well into his 90s.

In the aftermath of his passing, former president Bill Clinton and his wife, former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, led the tributes, reminiscing about their first encounter during his 1975 campaign, and expressing “thanks for his long, good life”.

“Anchored by his faith, President Carter dedicated his life to serving others until the end,” they stated.

Current White House occupant Joe Biden remarked: “Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian.”

President-elect Donald Trump noted that the challenges Mr. Carter encountered as president “arose at a crucial juncture for our country, and he did everything in his power to enhance the lives of all Americans.”

“For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude,” he added in a statement.